Regional Government of Galicia

The Regional Government of Galicia (Galician: Xunta de Galicia, Galician pronunciation: [ˈʃuntɐ ðɪ ɣaˈliθjɐ]) is the collective decision-making body of the government of the autonomous community of Galicia, composed of the President, the Vice-president(s) and the specialized ministers (Conselleiros).

The Regional Government is based at Santiago de Compostela, the Galician government capital. The Xunta de Galicia has delegations in the four provincial capital cities of Galicia: A Coruña, Pontevedra, Ourense and Lugo.

Article 16, Section 2 of the Galician Statute of Autonomy states that

The Vice presidents and Ministers shall be appointed and dismissed by the President.

The Regional Government of Galicia (or Xunta) finds its origins in the Xunta of the Kingdom of Galicia active between 1528 and 1833. The Xunta was Galicia's representation to the central Spanish monarchy. The Xunta was composed of representatives from the cities (dioceses) of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Betanzos, A Coruña, Mondoñedo, Ourense, and Tui. But at that time, the Xunta did not hold real power; it was a consultative body only.

During the Peninsular War, which started in 1808, the Xunta Suprema de Galicia directed the war against the French invaders and maintained the public order in Galician territory. This Xunta Suprema was in charge of military, legislative issues, and international relations. It was the first time that the Xunta had real autonomy, as the Spanish control weakened. This situation lasted until the French invaders were eventually expelled from the Iberian Peninsula and Ferdinand VII of Spain gradually recovered control over former territories (1813–1814).

In 1833, the Xunta was dismantled following the provincial division engaged in Spain by minister Javier de Burgos, under the regency of Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies. In this way, Galicia was separated into four provinces, each one managed by a Provincial Council.

Yet, in 1843, the Xunta Central de Galicia was created and presided over by Xosé Maria Suances. In 1846, commander Miguel Solís initiated a military uprising in Lugo. He put an end to the Provincial Councils and created the Xunta Superior do Goberno de Galicia, presided over by Pio Rodríguez Terrazo. This movement attempted to re-unify Galicia and called for Galicia's self-rule. Solís was eventually defeated at the Battle of Cacheiras (23 April 1846) and the so-called Martyrs of Carral were executed on 27 April.